Pan American World Airways, or as it is more commonly known, simply Pan Am, is considered synonymous with the golden age of air travel. In its several decades of existence, from 1927 to 1991, it became the unofficial flag carrier of the US. Serving destinations in 86 countries across 6 continents, it was a pioneer in making air travel more accessible and affordable for the masses.
While the airline stopped operations in 1991, Pan Am Brand, a company owning the licensing rights of the former carrier, continues to sell Pan Am merchandise. Now, in collaboration with the Pan Am Museum foundation, Bartelings, a company specialising in private jet tours around the world, and tour agency Criterion Travel, it has decided to bring the famous name back to the skies for one more exclusive flight.
Next summer, a Pan Am Branded Boeing 757 will retrace some of the carrier’s most popular routes, in an itinerary named “Tracing the Transatlantic Voyage”. Taking off from New York City, on 27 June, the flight will make stops in Bemuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London and Ireland’s Foynes before returning to the city that doesn’t sleep on 8 July.
“Since 1927, Pan Am has left an indelible mark on the world. From humble beginnings as the first commercial carrier for the U.S. Air Mail, Pan Am’s founder Juan T. Trippe went on to create a vast aviation empire across the globe, literally bringing the world closer together one flight at a time”, said Pan American World Airways newly appointed CEO Craig Carter. “Relaunching Pan Am requires a careful balance of honouring its storied past while innovating for the future, so that it resonates with both our longtime fans and new customers.”
Although Pan Am was the first airline to introduce economy seats, the plane for this voyage will only be fitted with 50 business class seats that will give passengers ample leg room, the possibility to recline into a lie-flat position for mid-flight naps and “unique buddy seats for gathering/socializing”. Further digging into the airline’s early beginnings of exclusivity, a ticket for the 12-day journey costs $65,000 for solo travellers and $59,950 per person if travelling in pairs.
For that amount, the companies promise not only “an unrivalled onboard experience”, but also upscale catering featuring continental cuisine and an open bar on all flight legs and stays at some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, including the Rosewood in Bermuda, the Four Seasons Ritz in Lisbon, the Savoy in London and the Dromoland Castle in Ireland.
